5 Appliances That Put Your Home at Risk for Flooding

These are the most commonly responsible appliances for flooding:

Dishwashers

Refrigerators

Toilets

Water heaters

Washing machines

Dishwashers and Flooding

Dishwasher overflows happen for many reasons – and one of the most common is overuse of soap. Sometimes, though, there are bigger issues. The strainer can become clogged with food and detritus left over from detergent, or there could be a faulty float switch inside. Plumbing connections can go bad over time (or they can be improperly installed), too, which puts you at risk for flooding in the kitchen.

Refrigerators and Flooding

If your refrigerator has a built-in ice maker, water flows into it – and that connection can go bad. But even if you don’t have an ice maker, your refrigerator most likely has a drain line to get rid of moisture that the fridge itself generates. Unfortunately, the drain line can get blocked by food, spilled drinks that dry, and other debris – and most people don’t know that you need to clean them regularly with bleach to keep them clear.

Toilets and Flooding

Clogging, malfunctioning floats and burst pipes – there’s a lot that can go wrong with a toilet. Depending on the water’s source, you could be dealing with water from one of three categories:

Clean water, which comes from what you’d think of as a clean source, like a broken pipe carrying fresh water.

Gray water, which is contaminated and may contain urine.

Black water, which is also contaminated and may contain urine, feces and other pathogens that come from sources outside your own home.

Water Heaters and Flooding

If you see water around the base of your water heater, rust on the outside of it, or any corrosion on the tank, your hot water heater may be on the brink of failure. Your best bet is to have a water heater maintenance professional come to your home every year to check yours.

Washing Machines and Flooding

Hoses and clogged drains can cause washing machines to flood your home. Usually, leaks take place at connections, around gaskets and in the pump. If your washing machine is over 8 years old, you should have it checked by a professional to make sure it’s not in danger of failing.

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